Kent, OH — Kent State University’s Kent Keyboard Series offers four concerts featuring Hugh A. Glauser School of Music faculty artists and internationally renowned guest artists.
Guest artist Conrad Tao, hailed as a “creative supernova” (Chicago Tribune), launches the Kent Keyboard Series season on Sun., Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. A child prodigy in piano and violin, Tao has emerged as one of the preeminent musicians of this generation as a pianist and composer. He continues to electrify audiences around the globe as a recitalist and soloist with leading orchestras, equally comfortable in repertoire ranging from the traditional to the present. Tao will perform the world premiere of faculty composer, Adam Roberts's “Book of Flowers” as well as Debussy's “Études.”
Sun. Nov. 3 at 5 pm., legendary jazz pianist, Kenny Werner is revered as a world-class pianist and composer whose musicianship has garnered powerful accolades from so many, including Quincy Jones, “Perfection. 360 degrees of soul and science in one human being. My kind of musician.” He is also celebrated as an author and pedagogue for his landmark book, “Effortless Mastery, Liberating The Master Musician Within.”&Բ;Werner received classical training at the Manhattan School of Music before pursuing jazz at the Berklee School of Music. He also studied with Brazilian pianist, Joao Assis Brasil. Special guest artist, Kenny Werner’s concert is presented in honor of Wriggberto Camara Furtado.
Join faculty pianist, Donna Lee and the Piano Division, on Sun. Feb. 23 at 5 p.m., to celebrate her twenty-fifth anniversary on the Glauser School of Music faculty. Enjoy a special program that includes piano students, current and past. Lee’s dedication to teaching has been recognized in recent honors, including induction into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame and a Distinguished Teaching Award from Kent State University. Professor and coordinator of the piano division at Kent State, Donna Lee also serves as artist faculty and coordinator of the piano area at Brevard Music Center in North Carolina.
On Sun. April 6 at 5 p.m., versatile and award-winning guest pianist, Donna Weng Friedman closes the Kent Keyboard Series season in an innovative concert program, “Five Composers and a Pianist.”&Բ;Praised for its thoughtful curation and the seamless way it bridges different musical traditions, the program brings together the works of five distinguished living composers, offering a rich and diverse musical experience. Friedman has collaborated with WQXR to create and produce “Heritage and Harmony” in celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, as well as co-create and co-produce “Her/Music; Her/Story,” which highlighted living women composers. Donna Weng Friedman currently serves on the faculty of Mannes School of Music.
After the Sun. April 6 performance, composers will virtually join a panel discussion led by Donna Weng Friedman, followed by a Q&A with audience members.
All performances will be held in Ludwig Recital Hall in the Center for the Performing Arts at 1325 Theatre Dr. on the Kent Campus. Parking is free.
Tickets for the four concerts are $12 each and free for 18 and under. They can be ordered through the Performing Arts Box Office by calling 330-672-2787, by visiting the Roe Green Lobby at 1325 Theatre Drive or online.
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Images:(Left to Right) Conrad Tao, Kenny Werner, Donna Lee, Donna Weng Friedman